It’s been 5 weeks since the Enhanced Community Quarantine or “lockdown” and just like everyone else, I myself have been keeping busy, looking for ways to cope up with everything.
In those five weeks, I’ve been working from home, talking to friends (reply time has gone from 3-5 business days to 1-2 days now) and well spending time doing other things I don’t normally do.
I got myself reading all the books I haven’t read, downloading and subscribing to Netflix (I mean, I’m the anti of Netflix but here I am) and cleaning my closet and room. I’ve started taking online courses dedicating some time to learn that I could come out with a new profession or something (of course, I’m kidding). But through it all, I am very grateful. I can’t imagine myself being out there in the frontline as a doctor, nurse, healthcare worker, essential goods worker, or even a leader in a time like this. And for that, I help whenever I can and however I can. I’ve been praying a lot too.
This time hasn’t been easy on any of us though. It’s easy for me to say now that I’ve been doing all these things but in reality I don’t just talk about (at least online) the times I wasn’t okay. Especially during the first two weeks of quarantine, I’ve been feeling anxious that I didn’t want to get up and go to work, would cry after praying the rosary or attending mass online, and stay up late just because I couldn’t sleep. I can’t imagine what it’s been for everyone else. But don’t worry, I’ve gotten a little better since then.
And I know I haven’t written anything new since then. I took a look at my old drafts and found my last DRAFT dated to May 2019. I thought I gave up on blogging too (thus me not renewing my domain name anymore) but I’m here again. I guess you can’t just give up on things you love, right?
Anyways, just thought of sharing this thought I came come across when scrolling through LinkedIn (yup, it has come to this for me) but it’s a good thought to remember during a time like this.
Simon Sinek, author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and Find Your Why(!!), shares the different between positivity and optimism. My favorite line from his video is this:
Optimism is different than positive – and it’s definitely not naive. Optimism is the belief that the future is positive, that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and we’re heading there, together.
Simon Sinek, Optimism vs. Positivity
And I’ve been holding on to the that line ever since.
We need to be optimistic rather than positive because positivity is the denying reality and it becomes dangerous when you channel yourself to believing that everything is okay even when it’s not. Optimism on the other hand, believing that we can and we will get through this. It’s acknowledging what is now but looking forward to the “end of the tunnel” because there is an end to it.
I guess that’s all I have for today. Feelings don’t just go away (hey, I’m scared too) but I know there’s always light at the end of the tunnel 🙂
To end, sharing some helpful articles I shared a few weeks back on the page about managing your anxiety and stress during this pandemic:
✨Ways to cope with stress during COVID-19
✨Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty
✨Minding your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak
✨Looking after yourself during the Coronavirus outbreak: Psychological advice for employees
I found these especially helpful and I hope you do too. Please don’t forget to reach out to people you trust – may if be family, friends, and/or loved ones – whenever you don’t feel okay. You can also reach out to me here, or through The Girl Who Wont Settle page in case – my lines are always open 🙂
Love and light,
Meli
Girl Who Wont Settle 